Loving Madeline

Madeline's POV

"My sweet, Madeline, see you tonight; I can't wait to dance with you and put my arms around your tiny waist, I wish to dance with you until the pre-wedding ball is over, and maybe we can have some prenuptial sweet moments because I can't stop thinking about you the entire day. I miss you so much, Maddie." That was Hunter's last message, and watching him run away from me like I am a ghost was too much to handle. I can see that our guests' eyes are on me, and I am standing at the bottom of the staircase feeling so lost, and I don't know what to do. I can tell they are murmuring into each other, and I am sure they are talking about me. 

I felt betrayed and humiliated, why he has to run away from me, and what I can't comprehend he was looking at me with so much anger and hatred on his face. Lily saved me from further embarrassment. She ran towards me, and she took my hand and dragged me going upstairs, and I am so thankful she made a move, or else I will be standing in front of all the guests like a stone. As I walked with Lily, I can hear Kaye and Charlotte's laughter.

I didn't let my tears fall because I know if I will cry, I will lose my tears, and I don't want to lose more. My heart is in too much pain, and Hunter's sudden walked-out episode makes me so confused. How can he be so sweet a while ago and turned out like that in front of everyone? Most of the guests are his parents' friends and associates. The only guest I have is Gina, and I can hear footsteps following behind us, and when I looked around, I can see my best friend running after us. I didn't see her in the crowd a while ago, and I wonder where she went.

"Madeline, wait, what happened?" She asked.

"My brother has done a tremendous job of hurting Madeline by running away the moment Maddie arrives at the bottom of the stairs after the host introduced her as his fiancee. Where did you go?" Lily responded, and asked Gina, and I can see the tears on my best friend's face that welled up in her eyes.

"Why? How could Hunter do this to you?" She asked while I only shook my head because I don't want to talk. And I know she cries easily every time I am hurting she will cry for me.

"Your sister Charlotte asked me to get some wine from the bar." Gina said to Lily, and I know it was part of Charlotte's plan to make me feel alone. How could Charlotte break my heart this way? I have done nothing to her, and I know it was because of her friend, Kaye. And I hope I know what is wrong with Hunter.

"Madeline, don't worry, everything will be alright. I will try to look for Hunter." Lily said the moment we reach my room.

"Thank you so much, Lily. I don't know what to do without you." I replied.

"I don't know what happened because before the program started, Hunter talked with me, and I can tell he was so excited to see you, but I wonder why he looked at you that way. You looked so beautiful with your Cinderella inspired dress, and your makeup is only light. I still can see your real beauty." Lily said, and I smile at her even though I don't feel like smiling at all, but this little girl always brings out the best of me.

"I should go now, Maddie." She said, and then she faced Gina.

"Gina, please stay with Madeline." She declared and turned her heels away from us, and I realized she looked like a teenager with her gown; Lily is beautiful like her mom and tall for her age. I slowly open the door of my room, and Gina is silently following behind me.

"Do you want me to leave?" She asked, and I nodded my head, and she turned around and walked back outside my room. I know Gina knows me because she is my best friend all through these years.

"Madeline, I know you want to be alone, but I want you to know I am just one text and one call away." She said before she closes my door. I didn't take off my dress. I go to my bed immediately, and I curled myself into a ball, and I could no longer hold my tears. I am crying because I felt so frustrated that Hunter walked away from me just like that. And I can't imagine his anger towards me, and he could have at least tell me what is going on. 

I get up from my bed and get facial tissue from my dresser, and I go back to bed in the same position. I was crying because I miss my mom, and I wouldn't say I like that I am in this kind of situation right now. I hate Hunter for walking out on me, and I am so worried that he will cancel our wedding tomorrow. I don't know how many hours had passed, and I am still lying on my bed thinking about what happened when I heard a soft knocking on my door, and I am too tired to get up.

"Lily, I am sorry. I think you should come back tomorrow." I said as I can hear her walking towards me.

"Madeline, I am sorry what happened out there." I am surprised to hear Leticia Divenson's soft voice, and when I turned around, I saw her sat on the edge of my bed, and she smiled weakly at me. I got up from my bed and sat beside her.

"You don't need to say sorry to me, Mrs. Divenson. It was your son who walked away from me and not you." I replied.

"I am not saying sorry on behalf of my son, and I am asking an apology on behalf of my daughter, Charlotte. No one in this household knew about Rebecca except us, Hunter's immediate family." She declared, and I suddenly felt curious, could it be Rebecca attended the pre-wedding ball, and Hunter got so angry because I am standing there instead of the love of her life.

"Can you at least tell me what is going on, Mrs. Divenson? As you can see, I am so affected by what happened because I am in love with your son." I declared, and I am no longer ashamed to tell her how I felt towards Hunter, and I can see how her face softened.

"Oh, Madeline, I thought my son is already over her, but by the way he looked at you a while ago, I can say my son is still hurting, and I hope you can help him." She said.

"I don't know what is going on, and I am not sure if he still wants to marry me." I said, and I can't stop myself from feeling so sad.

"He walked out, but it doesn't mean the wedding is off. You are still marrying my son tomorrow, Maddie." She replied.

"Are you sure he won't run away from me again?" I replied, and she smiled at me.

"Yes, I do. Hunter needs you, Maddie." She answered.

"What I have done to him? Why did he walk out? He embarrassed me in front of everyone." I declared.

"How did you get this dress, that shoes, and that necklace?" She asked, and my eyes widened.

"I thought it was him who put the package on my bed, he even instructed me to wear it on the night before our wedding day, and I never knew there would be a social ball." I replied, and she shook her head while she holds my hands.

"Well, Charlotte must go over to her brother's stuff. That dress, shoes, and that necklace belonged to Rebecca." Mrs. Divenson said, and I felt my body stiffened, and I remember what Charlotte said to me. She warned me to do everything she can to stop his brother from marrying me.

"What happened to Rebecca?" I asked.

"I know it is not my story to tell, but I don't want you to remain blind in this situation; I know now the reason why my son wants to marry you, to satisfy his father's wishes, but he contradicts him by choosing you instead of Kaye or another woman that came from a wealthy family. Clark wants my son to marry someone from the elite class to sustain the business because he was so afraid that our company will collapse again. He wants assurance, but I know Hunter harbors resentment towards his father." Leticia said.

"Rebecca was Hunter's first love, but Rebecca was only the daughter of our cleaning lady. Hunter's first love was beautiful like you. I can see how their love story blossom. She always comes here to help her mom while I can see my son how he became so in love with Rebecca." Leticia added, and I can't stop feeling jealous of Rebecca because I can tell how much Hunter loves her.

" I know they become a couple, and they were so in love with each other that was what I think, but when my husband finds out about it, he became so mad. Clark is not like that; he always wants what is best for his children, but he tried everything to separate them. Rebecca wore that dress on the night before their wedding day, during their pre-wedding ball, but it seems history repeats itself tonight." She continued, and before she can tell me more, we heard knocking on my door, and when I opened it, I found Cerila standing outside my door.

"Mrs. Divenson, your husband is looking for you, Ma'am." Cerila said, and Leticia got up immediately.

"I am sorry, Maddie, I need to go now, and I will come back to tell you more." She said.

"Thank you." I replied, and she smiled, and she softly touch my face.

"Madeline, I want you to strengthen your faith, and please don't give up on my son.." She said, and it seems her request is so complex to do because Hunter Divenson is a mystery that I need to solve with a brave heart and mind.